Discussion on partial report from the Senate Committee on Administration

COUNCILFrom
the Steering Committee

Council Open Discussion Period

Building on University Community interest in the Open Forum (Council
meeting of January 28, 1998), the Steering Committee of the University Council,
at its meeting of February 25, 1998, unanimously agreed to devote 15 minutes
of each University Council meeting, beginning with Council on April 22,
to respond to issues presented by any member of the University Community.
We ask that you send your issue/question to your constituency chair who
will take responsibility for collecting information for a response and bringing
the question and relevant information to Steering for additional input.
Steering will then place items on the Council agenda under the "question
and answer" time slot, according to the order in which items are received.
Should the issue be one that Steering decides needs broad deliberation and
discussion by Council, it will be scheduled as a separate agenda item for
a forthcoming Council meeting, as promptly as is possible.

This innovation is dedicated to Council's expressed interest in providing
a direct route for Community members to bring issues of importance to Council
and receive a timely response. Furthermore, we appreciate the opportunity
to be responsive to written communication, in this case Daily Pennsylvanian
editorials, calling for broader participation in Council.

Please address your questions in typewritten form through campus mail,
or through e-mail to your consituency chairs.

Please be reminded that those who wish to volunteer for service or nominate
others to serve on Council committees should do so as soon as possible.
The Committee on Committees is now beginning its work of selecting members
for 1998-99 committees. See the back page ofAlmanac
February 3 for a list of committees, nomination form and instructions.